Mum calls on people to nominate star carers

A MUM whose daughter needs round-the-clock care is encouraging people in a similar situation to nominate their carers for an award.

Margaret Onyet’s daughter Deborah, 58, of Pucklechurch, has severe multiple sclerosis. She is peg fed and tube fed and has to be hoisted into her wheelchair.

In fact, everything physical has to be done for her.

Margaret nominated Deborah’s carer, Nicola Clement, of Yate, for a Care and Support West Award because she feels Nicola goes above and beyond her job description – and Nicola duly won the personal assistant of the year award.

Margaret, of Winterbourne, said: “She’s exceptional. She’s been with my daughter for 10 years. What she does is adopt the family. A year ago, my daughter was in hospital and has sepsis which she nearly died from, followed by other infections. The person who was in the hospital every day was Nicola. She got there in the morning before the family got there. I’ve never seen such devotion.”

Nicola, pictured above with her trophy, was also nominated by the two other families she supports.

BBC Radio Bristol presenter Laura Rawlings, who was a special guest at the awards ceremony, said: “Nicola’s devotion to care for all three service users who nominated her is remarkable, alongside her always going even further than the extra mile.

“She is unfailingly cheerful and exceptionally supportive, ensuring those she supports, and their families, can always rely on her calm professionalism.”

Nicola said: “I was over the moon. I was nominated the year before in the final list, but I didn’t come anywhere. But this time I did.

“It was a surprise! It was lovely. My family all went to the awards. There were 12 of us and it was a really emotional night because of what people wrote about me and said about me. It’s important to have recognition.

“I won a glass trophy. If I’ve had a bad day, I just look at it and think “oh well never mind.”

Nominations for the annual Care and Support West awards are open until the end of March.